My Entrepreneurial Journey from Corporate to Start Up: How to Build Your Own Business

blog 2015
Written By Andrew Ford

"Burn the ships, conquer or die!" Hernán Cortés famously said during the Spanish conquest of Mexico in 1519AD. Since then 'burning the boats' has become a popular motivational phrase and one which I can relate to.

Just over two years ago I burned my own proverbial ship when I quit my high paying and quite cushy job in the corporate marketing world for the shark infested waters of small business. Sure it isn't quite as tough as a hand to hand war in Mexico (the first successful one BTW) or Mick Fanning literally beating off a shark whilst trying to surf (how tough are Aussies!) - but to me it was a big deal and quite challenging.

Those of us who dream of leaving your big job to start your passion business know what I am talking about. We attend Key Person of Influence eventsread The Entourage blogs and dream of one day when the mortgage is down and kids are not at private school when we might explore our own dreams and not those of others.  It's tough! Not life inducing dangerous as the previous examples, more like dieing of starvation little by little. Think Tom Hanks wasting away on a deserted island in the movie Cast Away - 'Wilson!!" anyone? Starvation of inspiration perhaps.

For some people the corporate life is awesome. They are well suited to the corporate challenges and that's great. But others just can't help wanting to give their passion project a go. Perhaps it's to test themselves or maybe they want more fulfillment or creativity in work. Regardless of why, I am more interested in the how. The how is what trips most people up. There are so so many people giving advice on what to do, but most I have seen lack the simple and definitive steps to create a business from scratch. I'm talking about the practical marketing like how to buy a URL and which one? How much to charge for my service? How to get clients from LinkedIn without spending buckets of dollars and do I really need Twitter? The solution to these common sense business problems are, unfortunately, not that common - sometimes these are the difference between being successful and not. This is the problem I am aiming to solve.

If you have a side business you are wanting to get going. A part time Plan B income you want to establish or a passion business that might one day support the family - this is what you need to do. Register for my webinar series on Turning Passion to Profits. It's free and I will reveal the exact steps of how I managed to get off the golden treadmill and start my own fast growing passion business. 

There are no catches or gotchyas, just my best content.  

Why am I giving away my best ideas? Because I want to help those who feel compelled to start something and don't have time to do 14 years of business school like I did. It took me about 10 years to build up the courage so I understand your pain!  There are three webinars to choose from so you have a variety of dates and they will be recorded too. It's free and risk free.  Bring your passion to life Click here to join Passion to Profits.

 

Andrew Ford

Entrepreneur with my feet on my own desk, because I can :)

P.S. After the webinar you can book a 1:1 session with me to evaluate your business idea for a charitable donation of $50. Then if your business suits our methodology you could be one of the 12 start ups invited to my business builder incubator starting in September. 

If you liked this blog don't miss out on the next one! Subscribe now to get them in your mailbox each week. What's the worst that can happen, you can always cancel and you just might learn something valuable :)

As an added bonus all my visitors can download a complimentary copy of my book 'Creating a Powerful Brand' by clicking on the book menu button or here. Tell your friends we have load of eBooks! It will change your life or you money back. Enjoy!

 

(the link is http://www.andrewford.com.au/book/)

Andrew Ford
Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.
http://www.andrewford.com.au/
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